Few names in drag racing – or hot rodding, period – carry the weight of Ed “The Camfather” Iskenderian. The legendary founder of Isky Racing Cams turned 104 years old this week, and if the birthday bash at Lions Automobilia Foundation Museum was any indication, he’s still got plenty of gas in the tank.
From pioneering camshaft design to shaping the marketing that helped define early hot rodding culture, Isky isn’t just a part of the sport’s history – he helped invent it. And at 104 years young, the Camfather is still full of stories, insights, and the kind of old-school swagger that built drag racing into what it is today.
“Ed had a great 104th Birthday at Lions Automobilia Foundation Museum,” read a post from the Isky Racing Cams team. “Lana Chrisman and the whole staff put on a wonderful event and many thanks to Jack Beckman for being the emcee. Thanks to all who came to celebrate.”
The first of several celebrations planned throughout the week, the Lions event was filled with racers, friends, fans, and industry legends – many of whom owe their careers in some part to the innovation and integrity of Ed Iskenderian.
And while the festivities were fittingly nostalgic, a recent sit-down interview with Alex Taylor on the Isky YouTube channel reminded everyone just how deep Ed’s roots run.
In the nearly hour-long conversation, Ed recounted the earliest days of Isky Racing Cams – from building his first brochures three days before the first Hot Rod Show at Exposition Park, to running full-time dyno testing in his California shop, to playing a crucial role in land speed and circle track development.
“You can only do so much talking,” Ed told Taylor. “You’ve got to have something worth reading. Something informative. People want to learn – and that’s what I gave them.”
His commitment to educating customers through advertising and technical literature was decades ahead of its time. While others ran glossy, vague marketing campaigns, Ed delivered value – and built trust. “Teach them,” he said. “Don’t just tell them your name.”
Isky also dove into the legendary partnerships he forged with racers like Vic Edelbrock, Art Malone, and Don Garlits, detailing how camshaft development was often done in real time, grinding and testing multiple variations across a single afternoon on the dyno. His stories aren’t just history – they’re the blueprint for how high-performance was born.
“In one day, we tested four different cams and had results from each,” Ed said. “That’s how we figured out what worked. You learn by doing.”
From smoking cigars to keep calm on the phone in the early days to sneaking into seminars to call out long-rod myths, Ed’s tales are as bold as the man himself. And in the midst of it all, there’s an unmistakable theme: he always told the truth, always helped racers go faster, and always had a trick up his sleeve.
Now, at 104, he’s still making appearances, still sharing stories, and still influencing the sport – whether it’s through Isky’s continued innovation or the generations of racers and engine builders who consider him the ultimate source.
“This guy’s not just behind the legend,” Taylor said during the interview. “He is the legend.”
From all of us at Drag Illustrated – happy birthday, Camfather. The sport you helped build wouldn’t be the same without you.
This story was originally published on July 15, 2025. 
